Carl Ikeme is our big inspiration - Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo

Carl Ikeme has been described as a ‘big inspiration’ to the Wolves squad by boss Nuno Espirito Santo after his battle with leukaemia.

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Carl Ikeme playing for Wolves

The 32-year-old goalkeeper retired from football last month on medical advice after spending 18 years with Wolves.

Nuno said: “Carl since last season has been an inspiration for us. “Inspiration of the way he approached his disease, the way he overcome the problem that he had so Carl is and will always be a big inspiration for us. He is our friend, he is someone that at any chance to join us, he comes here and speaks with the boys and speaks with us, so Carl is a strong man and big inspiration for us.”

The No.1 shirt has been vacated for the upcoming season in respect to Ikeme. And current goalkeepers Rui Patricio and John Ruddy have opted for different numbers in respect of Ikeme, revealed Nuno. “The way I speak about Carl, for sure, the No.1 shirt will always be Carl Ikeme’s shirt,” said Nuno.

“Yes, it was Rui Patricio’s choice to wear the No.11 shirt.”

Patricio is one of six new players at Molineux this summer after Wolves splashed the cash on new transfers. Speaking on the club’s transfer activity, Nuno said: “First of all you determine your target list.

“Second of all you start pre-season with the squad that you had before and you start working.

“You determine who you want. Sometimes it is possible, sometimes it is not.”